.

Computer Virus Might Be Blasting AC/DC In Iranian Nuclear Facility

'Thunderstruck' mysteriously played at max volume in the middle of the night

AC/DC
Michael Ochs Archives/GettyImages
July 25, 2012 2:05 PM ET

A computer virus might be the cause of AC/DC involuntarily blasting at maximum volume at a nuclear facility in Iran, reports Gawker. According to emails received by Mikko Hypponen, a Finnish computer virus hunter and lead researcher for computer security firm F-Secure, the facility has endured cyber attacks that have included the song "Thunderstruck" randomly blasting in the middle of the night, beyond scientists' control.

"I am writing you to inform you that our nuclear program has once again been compromised and attacked by a new worm with exploits which have shut down our automation network at Natanz and another facility Fordo near Qom," reads one of the emails. "According to the email our cyber experts sent to our teams, they believe a hacker tool Metasploit was used. The hackers had access to our VPN. The automation network and Siemens hardware were attacked and shut down. I only know very little about these cyber issues as I am scientist not a computer expert.

"There was also some music playing randomly on several of the workstations during the middle of the night with the volume maxed out," continues the email. "I believe it was playing 'Thunderstruck' by AC/DC."

Hypponen claims he has verified that the emails were indeed sent from Iran's Atomic Energy Organization.

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

prev
Music Main Next

blog comments powered by Disqus
Daily Newsletter

Get the latest RS news in your inbox.

Sign up to receive the Rolling Stone newsletter and special offers from RS and its
marketing partners.

X

We may use your e-mail address to send you the newsletter and offers that may interest you, on behalf of Rolling Stone and its partners. For more information please read our Privacy Policy.

Song Stories

“1999”

Prince | 1982

“I don’t consider myself a great poet,” Prince told Rolling Stone. “I just know I’m here to say what’s on my mind.” In the case of the apocalyptic party anthem “1999,” he was worried about then-president Ronald Reagan’s foreign policies. The song’s melody is based on a riff borrowed from the Mamas and Papas’ “Monday, Monday,” and Prince originally envisioned the first verse with three-part harmony but later split the vocals between himself and members of the Revolution. Because Warner Bros., with whom Prince was locked in a contractual battle, owned the original’s masters, Prince rerecorded the song and appropriately released that version in 1999.

More Song Stories entries »